Phoenix Flyer #25

March 26, 2021

Dear Phoenix Families –Happy Spring Break!  Thanks to you all, our students, and the DHMS Staff for another wonderful week of teaching and learning.  It has been so impressive to be in classes (virtually and in person) and able to observe students working in groups, competing through games, and demonstrating knowledge and skills with projects and assessments.

Qualtrics Health Screening:  Thank you all for completing the daily Qualtrics Health Screening for your APS students.  Having this screening completed before your student arrives allows for a quicker entry into the building.  Please complete the screener whether your student is in-person or fully virtual, as that provides the most complete picture of what is happening in our community to the Public Health Department in Arlington and is also reflected on the Covid Dashboard for APS.

All failed screening reports are electronically submitted to me, and a member of our attendance and/or school health team will reach out to the family to verify the report. Fortunately, most failed screenings are due to an error made in clicking a response, usually before one has had their morning coffee or tea.  However, if the school health team deems the failed screening valid, the parent/guardian will be guided as to next steps as well as the exclusion plan that will be implemented for the student, per health guidelines.

Possible Positive Case Scenario:  When school and community health identify a close contact case as one for potential outbreak, due to an in-person student or staff member testing positive for COVID-19, DHMS will send a general notification to staff and families, and notice will also be posted on the main APS website. The notification will inform staff and families that the Arlington County Public Health Division (ACPHD) will follow up with contact tracing and specific guidance for anyone identified as a close contact.

An excerpt from my letter to students this week:  When we named our school after Dorothy M. B. Hamm, we honored her life’s work as a Civil Rights Activist – we also made it our mission to ensure that all people are accepted, valued, and supported.  Last week’s horrific violence in Atlanta against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community highlights the importance and expedient nature of this work.  My heart goes out to the families and communities impacted, especially our Asian American and Pacific Islander families here at DHMS…. We at DHMS Middle School aim to create inclusive and equitable learning environments – where every person feels they belong and believes they can become whatever they dream and whomever they aspire to be.  I encourage you, our Phoenix students, to treat others as you would like to be treated, stand up when you see an injustice, and speak up to make a difference.

APS Bus Transportation: APS Transportation has updated student bus routes for eligible hybrid riders. Changes will be uploaded into ParentVue by Monday, March 29, 2021 and will take effect on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. These updates may have resulted in changes to your student’s bus numbers and stop locations.

• To access your student’s new bus route information (bus number and stop location), please scroll to the Student Info Tab in Parent Vue.
• This can be found in the left set of menu items.  Once in the student info tab, scroll to the bottom of the screen to see your student’s updated pick up and drop off information.
• Once you scroll down in the Student Info Tab, you will see two boxes.  This is where you will find your student’s updated bus route, stop location, pick up and drop off times.

If you have any questions regarding your student’s transportation information, please call the APS Transportation Hotline at 703-228-6640.Please enjoy a safe and healthy Spring Break, and remember, Monday, April 5 is a “B or Gold” Day.  Students should log into their classes (periods: 2, 4, 5, 6, and TA) at their normal times from home.  There are NO students in the school building this day.

Best,
Ellen
Principal, Dorothy Hamm Middle School

Upcoming Events: 

• Monday, March 29 – Friday April 2 – Spring Break
• Monday, April 5 – Synchronous Learning Day (“Gold Day”)
• Monday, April 5 – Parent Chat, in English @4:00 pm
• Friday, April 9 – last day of Third Quarter
• Monday, April 12 – No School for Students, Grade Prep Day
• Monday, April 12 – Parent Chat, in Spanish @5:00 pm